Slot machines are a staple of the casino environment, both online and at real-world establishments. At any casino, you will see hundreds of slot machines with greatly varying themes and game mechanics all clamouring for attention.

Slots remain one of the most popular games at casinos because they are easy to play, making them accessible to all levels of casino players and of course. The big lure of them, besides the bright lights and fun soundtracks, is the chance of landing a big payout, especially if initially you don’t have to spend large sums of money. Visit sites from an expert-curated selection casinos with a £5 minimum deposit and you will find almost an overwhelming number of slots to play at. But even slots have a shelf-life and may also get suddenly removed for numerous reasons. How do casinos decide which to pull?

Keeping It Fresh

A driving factor as to a reason why a casino may pull a game is simply to keep their stock fresh and engaging, a bit like a clothes store updating their stock for a new season. The added variety and promotion of fresh new games can be a great selling point for a casino in attracting customers. Slots are immensely popular and the easier it is for customers to find a game that’s relevant to their particular taste in things like RTP% and theme, the more likely the casino is going to keep players engaged.

The Numbers Matter

But the bigger factor of why casinos pull certain games is simply down to money. Casinos track the profitability of everything, so they are fully aware of the revenue generated from a game. If a game happens to be producing a low revenue return, then it is likely to get pulled and replaced with one that potentially is going to perform better.

In physical casinos, slot machines are great because several can be packed into the same area as say what a roulette table would take up. The more profitable ones they can pack in, the better.

Popularity

There is something of a popularity contest between slot machines as well. Some games just do not have the high rates of players using it, for whatever reason. Think about landing on a casino site in Canada and seeing hundreds of slot options – they aren’t all going to be used as much as one another. If there is a game that has been around and its novelty has worn off, then it may be removed from the portfolio and again, replaced with something new and shiny that will attract customers.

Does Age Matter?

To a degree, the age of the game will also matter, particularly at a physical location. Older games can age regarding playability and even the size of the payouts that they offer. Visit a real-world casino and you’ll likely see most people on big video slots while tucked in a corner somewhere largely unused, will be penny slots.

Perhaps more than age, it’s the niche area of the casino game’s theme that matters more. If it’s a licensed slot, perhaps based on a popular movie release, then that may just naturally go out of fashion because it’s not trendy any more.

New Innovations

Another age-related reason why a casino may pull a slot is down to it not being competitive against newer gaming innovations. Casinos are always assessing the industry and striving for the newest edges to attract customers, which means that if something new comes along, like a new version of video poker, for example, older models may get kicked to make room.

Cost of Operation

Swinging back around to cost, there are also general operational costs to consider for physical casinos. If it’s a game that requires more and more maintenance, then that is eating into its potential profit and typically not worth the upkeep. The complexity of managing a machine may also play a considerable role in this area.

Testing Periods

It’s also possible that machines will first go through a trial period so the casino can gauge how they perform. If it’s proving to be less popular and only generating low revenue then the game will likely disappear when the trial period is done. Games often fail to live up to the standards expected of them and therefore they don’t make the grade as viable long-term options.

In Conclusion

Casinos analyse every part of their business and that includes scoping out any underperforming slot games. This is why players will see titles change, as operators look to stay current and provide gaming options that simply align with the current wave of player preferences.